Favourite Bee Gees albums

AudioEnz · 12-04-2003, 03:42 PM

One of the most importaant groups in pop history never seems to get much time on this here Forum. Time to put a stop to that!

So how about a discussion about your favourite Bee gees albums?

My favourites:

Bee Gees 1st Their first international LP release from 1967. Recorded before, but release after Sgt Pepper, Bee Gees 1st was an incredibly strong album and something of a pop masterpeice. Included on this album are classics such as the hit singles New York Mining Disaster and Holiday, along with To Love Somebody and I Can't See Nobody - still included in their live shows till the end.

Odessa Bookending the 1960s was their 4th album, released in 1969. A more floral album, somethings bordering on the excessive, Odessa has often had a poor reputation - not deserved in my opinion. Written and recorded when the Bee Gees were close to breaking up, Odessa spun off only one single (First of May), but looking at the track listing, three quarters of the songs stand out as memorable numbers.

So what are your favourite Bee gees albums?

martinfoyle · 12-04-2003, 04:31 PM

Odesssa was the subject of a interesting retrospective piece in Mojo a year or so ago. Indeed the brothers Gibb apparently founding it interesting as well, they had been rather dismissive of it over the years. Tentative plans were made, I believe, to give it a sonic upgrade at least, if not do the expanded re-issue thing with it as well. Unfortunately the death of one them in the last year seems to have put this on the backburner. Too bad, since it does stand up as collection of songs. The present lame cd edition, which I picked up for a fiver or so, does'nt do it justice

davenav · 12-04-2003, 05:00 PM

I'll go for '1st.'

I think it was recorded concurrently with Pepper, but even so it is remarkably 'on the same page.'

Even more remarkable--Barry Gibb was all of eighteen years old, Robin and Maurice were 17!!! The lyrics and vocals would lead one to believe they were far older.

The mono lp is really freaking awesome!!!

Pug · 12-04-2003, 06:56 PM

I love the Bee Gees. My pick is "Main Course". A foreshadow of the disco era to come. Jive Talkin' is still one of my all time favorite songs of all time.

Sean

StrawberryFields · 12-04-2003, 07:23 PM

Bee Gees 1st is truly one of the greatest albums of the '60s. The drama and overall consistency of the songwriting is remarkable, and puts this album in an elite class. Their other albums were never quite as consistent as this one, although "Horizontal" and "Odessa" also contained some masterpieces (as did their later albums, to be fair). I still think "Holiday" is one of the most amazing and haunting tunes ever written, and this song was unique to the era that produced their first album. As I 've said before, 1967 was in many ways the peak of rock. And "Bee Gees 1st" was indeed one of the peaks of 1967.

stever · 12-04-2003, 09:00 PM

I grew up with, "Main Course," and, "Spirits Having Flown." These two are my favorite proper albums. The box set, "Tales from the Brothers Gibb," is a must-have.

Larry Naramore · 12-04-2003, 09:23 PM

1st...

**Jeff H.** · 12-04-2003, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by stever
I grew up with, "Main Course," and, "Spirits Having Flown." These two are my favorite proper albums. The box set, "Tales from the Brothers Gibb," is a must-have.

Those are my two favorite Bee Gees albums too! Children Of The World is pretty strong too with the hits off of that(You Should Be Dancing, Love So Right, and Boogie Child), and album cuts(You Stepped Into My Life, Love Me, and The Way It Was). That album was the dress rehearsal for Saturday Night Fever. Speaking of the Brothers Gibb, yesterday I was out used record shopping and found a nice mint copy of this 12" sampler from the Spirits Having Flown album that has "Tragedy" on one side, "Search, Find" and "Love You Inside And Out". Sounds fantastic!!! Nothing like the sound of those widely cut grooves, and increased dynamic range!

Claus · 12-05-2003, 02:53 AM

Odessa

Ed Bishop · 12-05-2003, 05:17 AM

Must depend upon which era you grew up in....while I enjoy some of the '70s work--"Tragedy" most of all--and you can find plenty of decent stuff sprinkled all around their catalog, my heart is with all the early ones---1st, HORIZONTAL, IDEA, ODESSA, CUCUMBER CASTLE, most of the Atco(US)singles catalog....and of course "Spicks And Specks" and some of the earliest material. And I'm a big fan of the mono mixes, too--some very interesting things going on through '68....

ED

**Mark** · 12-05-2003, 05:28 AM

Two really distinct musical periods for them, the flowery ballads of the late 60s, early 70s (my favorite period) and, of course, the disco, "SNF" era, for which they may, in the long run, be more remembered. They really struck me as a singles band early on, and perhaps even in the latter period as well.

Ed Bishop · 12-05-2003, 05:50 AM

Whenever I think 'singles band,' I also tend to think--sometimes wrongly---'lotsa album filler.' But the Bee Gees, while occasionally guilty of that, came up with some early gems like "With The Sun In My Eyes," "Swan Song," "Melody Fair," "I Laugh In Your Face"--among others--that could have been singles on their own. This is also true later on, as "More Than A Woman" would prove.

They had a lot more going on than we tend to give them credit for....but, they also recorded enough slush now and then to remind us that, while prolific, they were far from perfect in their choice of material, something they've readily admitted. There are still singles they put out they wish they hadn't!

"Jumbo" for one!

ED

Lorin · 12-05-2003, 06:03 AM

Odessa - I'd like to see a reissue recreating the original album package.

Mr. Natural - Underrated. The first effort with Arif Mardin. Loved the title track and Dogs remains a favorite. Kind of partial to the "lost" period. Happen to see them at the Chicago Auditorium around this time. They were still playing the second half of their shows with an orchestra. Still one of my most vivid concert experiences.

Size Isn't Everything - For my money the best of their post-70's albums. Great production, strong songs. For Whom The Bell Tolls is a beaut.

Main Course - Great album. In my opinion, the best use of Barry's fallsetto. Always prefered his high voice accenting the material, as opposed to the lead vocal. One of the best pop albums of the 70's.

tim_neely · 12-05-2003, 06:29 AM

One thing to say for sure about the Bee Gees: Well into the 1970s, they still had good B-sides. Even if they were cuts from the LP, they were really good. I did a Bee Gees "Singles A and B" collection on CD-R that took me to the end of the Atco years (1972), and there are some really fine B-sides. Several are arguably better than the A-sides, including "Walking Back to Waterloo" and "Paper Mache, Cabbages and Kings."

That said, my favorite Bee Gees albums (not including compilations) are:

Bee Gees 1st... what a difference adding a string section made! In retrospect, it's amazing that, even though the vast majority of the world had never heard anything they ever recorded in Australia, and they even left more than a dozen recordings "in the can" when they left, that this album is entirely new material!
Odessa ... a lost classic.
To Whom It May Concern ... not yet mentioned, this 1972 album is remarkably diverse, with more styles of music you'd consider "un-Bee Gee like" than on any other Bee Gees album. And dig the non-LP B-side "On Time" (B-side of "My World") from the same era -- it sounds NOTHING like the Bee Gees!
Main Course ... this despite the fact that "Jive Talkin'" may be my single least favorite Bee Gees hit song. There are so many good songs here that one was a hit for Olivia Newton-John ("Come On Over") and one would be a hit for the Gibb brothers in a later live version ("Edge of the Universe")
This Is Where I Came In ... if this 2001 disc turns out to be their last album, it serves as an outstanding swan song.

Rick B. · 12-05-2003, 07:29 AM

I'm quite partial to Mr. Natural - this one came out just before Main Course. Alos like Odessa.

pdenny · 12-05-2003, 08:41 AM

ODESSA rules...bring on the remaster!

Since no one else has mentioned it, I want to nominate one of my favorite Bee Gee albums: LIVING EYES. It's criminally underheard...after all the disco stuff and the multiplatinum falsetto-packed SPIRITS HAVING FLOWN the boys were pooped enough to take a couple years off. They owed RSO one more album and in 82 they delivered LIVING EYES. I bet a lot of folks were shocked to hear what was in essence a return to their pre-MAIN COURSE style. A return to form sez me! Great songs, not much falsetto. "Wildflower", "Paradise", "Don't fall in Love With Me", "I Still Love You" and "Nothing Could Be Good" are wonderful ballads while the title track, "He's a Liar" and "Cryin' Every Day" are upbeat toe-tappers. The CD was available domestically for about half a day back in the 80's; I have the Japanese CD which fetches huge sums on eBay. BRING THIS ONE BACK TOO!!!

joelee · 12-05-2003, 01:44 PM

This is Where I came In... a few over the top numbers but this is the Bee Gees. Very good overlooked set.

Joe L.

Rick B. · 12-05-2003, 01:58 PM

Quote:

This is Where I came In... a few over the top numbers but this is the Bee Gees. Very good overlooked set.

I'll second that. Best album in a decade at least.

HeavyDistortion · 12-05-2003, 02:35 PM

My favorites Bee Gees LPs are "1st" and "Odessa", and my favorite single was "Jumbo".

Ed Hurdle
HeavyDistortion

audio · 12-05-2003, 04:07 PM

This is impossible. I love the Bee Gees almost as much as I love the Beatles. Also, comparing their later stuff and early stuff is like dealing with two different artists. I know it's generic, but I guess my favorites are "Saturday Night Fever" and "Trafalgar". I also love "Odessa", "To Whom It May Concern", "Horizontal", "Idea", "Main Course" and "Life In a Tin Can" a whole bunch. The Bee Gees are incredible.

12-04-2003, 03:42 PM	#1
AudioEnz Forum Icon Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Top floor of AudioEnz Towers, Auckland, New Zealand Posts: 2,927	Favourite Bee Gees albums One of the most importaant groups in pop history never seems to get much time on this here Forum. Time to put a stop to that! So how about a discussion about your favourite Bee gees albums? My favourites: Bee Gees 1st Their first international LP release from 1967. Recorded before, but release after Sgt Pepper, Bee Gees 1st was an incredibly strong album and something of a pop masterpeice. Included on this album are classics such as the hit singles New York Mining Disaster and Holiday, along with To Love Somebody and I Can't See Nobody - still included in their live shows till the end. Odessa Bookending the 1960s was their 4th album, released in 1969. A more floral album, somethings bordering on the excessive, Odessa has often had a poor reputation - not deserved in my opinion. Written and recorded when the Bee Gees were close to breaking up, Odessa spun off only one single (First of May), but looking at the track listing, three quarters of the songs stand out as memorable numbers. So what are your favourite Bee gees albums? __________________ Michael Jones - Editor New Zealand's hi-fi magazine http://www.audioenz.co.nz

12-04-2003, 05:00 PM	#3
davenav Forum All Star Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: NYC USA Posts: 3,665	I'll go for '1st.' I think it was recorded concurrently with Pepper, but even so it is remarkably 'on the same page.' Even more remarkable--Barry Gibb was all of eighteen years old, Robin and Maurice were 17!!! The lyrics and vocals would lead one to believe they were far older. The mono lp is really freaking awesome!!! __________________ The world is full of cynical know-it-alls who get off on trashing true genius, and about 85 percent are posing as authorities on the Internet.

12-04-2003, 09:23 PM	#7
Larry Naramore Bonafied Knucklehead Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Sun Valley, Calif. Posts: 5,634	1st... __________________ Look out Joe, I'm fallin' I can't unfold my arms I've got one foot in the graveyard No one cares for me, cares for me Signed D. C.

12-05-2003, 02:53 AM	#9
Claus Fireblade Rider Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Germany Posts: 11,299	Odessa __________________ my Steve Hoffman Info Site my SACD library

12-05-2003, 05:17 AM	#10
Ed Bishop Vinyl Hound, Esq. Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Between D.C. and Charleston Posts: 24,568	Must depend upon which era you grew up in....while I enjoy some of the '70s work--"Tragedy" most of all--and you can find plenty of decent stuff sprinkled all around their catalog, my heart is with all the early ones---1st, HORIZONTAL, IDEA, ODESSA, CUCUMBER CASTLE, most of the Atco(US)singles catalog....and of course "Spicks And Specks" and some of the earliest material. And I'm a big fan of the mono mixes, too--some very interesting things going on through '68.... ED __________________ "A Bad " ...have a question about Quad and Multichannel discs? Visit QQ

12-04-2003, 04:31 PM	#2
martinfoyle New Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Dublin ,Ireland Posts: 1	Odesssa was the subject of a interesting retrospective piece in Mojo a year or so ago. Indeed the brothers Gibb apparently founding it interesting as well, they had been rather dismissive of it over the years. Tentative plans were made, I believe, to give it a sonic upgrade at least, if not do the expanded re-issue thing with it as well. Unfortunately the death of one them in the last year seems to have put this on the backburner. Too bad, since it does stand up as collection of songs. The present lame cd edition, which I picked up for a fiver or so, does'nt do it justice

12-04-2003, 06:56 PM	#4
Pug Elitist Snob Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Illinois Posts: 15,326	I love the Bee Gees. My pick is "Main Course". A foreshadow of the disco era to come. Jive Talkin' is still one of my all time favorite songs of all time. Sean

12-04-2003, 07:23 PM	#5
StrawberryFields Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: New Jersey Posts: 539	Bee Gees 1st is truly one of the greatest albums of the '60s. The drama and overall consistency of the songwriting is remarkable, and puts this album in an elite class. Their other albums were never quite as consistent as this one, although "Horizontal" and "Odessa" also contained some masterpieces (as did their later albums, to be fair). I still think "Holiday" is one of the most amazing and haunting tunes ever written, and this song was unique to the era that produced their first album. As I 've said before, 1967 was in many ways the peak of rock. And "Bee Gees 1st" was indeed one of the peaks of 1967.

12-04-2003, 09:00 PM	#6
stever Forum Hall Of Fame Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Lincoln, Nebr. Posts: 4,888	I grew up with, "Main Course," and, "Spirits Having Flown." These two are my favorite proper albums. The box set, "Tales from the Brothers Gibb," is a must-have.

12-05-2003, 05:28 AM	#11
Mark I Am Gort, Hear Me Roar Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Connecticut-The College Basketball Capital of the World Posts: 7,498	Two really distinct musical periods for them, the flowery ballads of the late 60s, early 70s (my favorite period) and, of course, the disco, "SNF" era, for which they may, in the long run, be more remembered. They really struck me as a singles band early on, and perhaps even in the latter period as well. __________________ Mark "Some people are New York or London or-God help them-Los Angeles. I am Hartford. -- Katharine Hepburn.

12-05-2003, 05:50 AM	#12
Ed Bishop Vinyl Hound, Esq. Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Between D.C. and Charleston Posts: 24,568	Whenever I think 'singles band,' I also tend to think--sometimes wrongly---'lotsa album filler.' But the Bee Gees, while occasionally guilty of that, came up with some early gems like "With The Sun In My Eyes," "Swan Song," "Melody Fair," "I Laugh In Your Face"--among others--that could have been singles on their own. This is also true later on, as "More Than A Woman" would prove. They had a lot more going on than we tend to give them credit for....but, they also recorded enough slush now and then to remind us that, while prolific, they were far from perfect in their choice of material, something they've readily admitted. There are still singles they put out they wish they hadn't! "Jumbo" for one! ED __________________ "A Bad " ...have a question about Quad and Multichannel discs? Visit QQ

12-05-2003, 06:03 AM	#13
Lorin Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 157	Odessa - I'd like to see a reissue recreating the original album package. Mr. Natural - Underrated. The first effort with Arif Mardin. Loved the title track and Dogs remains a favorite. Kind of partial to the "lost" period. Happen to see them at the Chicago Auditorium around this time. They were still playing the second half of their shows with an orchestra. Still one of my most vivid concert experiences. Size Isn't Everything - For my money the best of their post-70's albums. Great production, strong songs. For Whom The Bell Tolls is a beaut. Main Course - Great album. In my opinion, the best use of Barry's fallsetto. Always prefered his high voice accenting the material, as opposed to the lead vocal. One of the best pop albums of the 70's.

12-05-2003, 06:29 AM	#14
tim_neely Forum Hall Of Fame Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Central WI Posts: 8,357	One thing to say for sure about the Bee Gees: Well into the 1970s, they still had good B-sides. Even if they were cuts from the LP, they were really good. I did a Bee Gees "Singles A and B" collection on CD-R that took me to the end of the Atco years (1972), and there are some really fine B-sides. Several are arguably better than the A-sides, including "Walking Back to Waterloo" and "Paper Mache, Cabbages and Kings." That said, my favorite Bee Gees albums (not including compilations) are: Bee Gees 1st... what a difference adding a string section made! In retrospect, it's amazing that, even though the vast majority of the world had never heard anything they ever recorded in Australia, and they even left more than a dozen recordings "in the can" when they left, that this album is entirely new material! Odessa ... a lost classic. To Whom It May Concern ... not yet mentioned, this 1972 album is remarkably diverse, with more styles of music you'd consider "un-Bee Gee like" than on any other Bee Gees album. And dig the non-LP B-side "On Time" (B-side of "My World") from the same era -- it sounds NOTHING like the Bee Gees! Main Course ... this despite the fact that "Jive Talkin'" may be my single least favorite Bee Gees hit song. There are so many good songs here that one was a hit for Olivia Newton-John ("Come On Over") and one would be a hit for the Gibb brothers in a later live version ("Edge of the Universe") This Is Where I Came In ... if this 2001 disc turns out to be their last album, it serves as an outstanding swan song.

12-05-2003, 07:29 AM	#15
Rick B. Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Toronto Posts: 565	I'm quite partial to Mr. Natural - this one came out just before Main Course. Alos like Odessa.

12-05-2003, 08:41 AM	#16
pdenny Desde Parangaricutirimicuaro Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: 4 blocks from Emitt Rhodes' place Posts: 9,827	ODESSA rules...bring on the remaster! Since no one else has mentioned it, I want to nominate one of my favorite Bee Gee albums: LIVING EYES. It's criminally underheard...after all the disco stuff and the multiplatinum falsetto-packed SPIRITS HAVING FLOWN the boys were pooped enough to take a couple years off. They owed RSO one more album and in 82 they delivered LIVING EYES. I bet a lot of folks were shocked to hear what was in essence a return to their pre-MAIN COURSE style. A return to form sez me! Great songs, not much falsetto. "Wildflower", "Paradise", "Don't fall in Love With Me", "I Still Love You" and "Nothing Could Be Good" are wonderful ballads while the title track, "He's a Liar" and "Cryin' Every Day" are upbeat toe-tappers. The CD was available domestically for about half a day back in the 80's; I have the Japanese CD which fetches huge sums on eBay. BRING THIS ONE BACK TOO!!! __________________ "So far, I have heard only few of Mr. Sinatra's 70 + albums but I think 'Waterfront' is and will remain one my favorite album for this great artist. " --Amazon reviewer

12-05-2003, 01:44 PM	#17
joelee Forum Hall Of Fame Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Houston Posts: 5,001	This is Where I came In... a few over the top numbers but this is the Bee Gees. Very good overlooked set. Joe L. __________________ Joe Lee

12-05-2003, 02:35 PM	#19
HeavyDistortion Forum Addict Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 1,893	My favorites Bee Gees LPs are "1st" and "Odessa", and my favorite single was "Jumbo". Ed Hurdle HeavyDistortion

12-05-2003, 04:07 PM	#20
audio Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: guyana Posts: 6,030	This is impossible. I love the Bee Gees almost as much as I love the Beatles. Also, comparing their later stuff and early stuff is like dealing with two different artists. I know it's generic, but I guess my favorites are "Saturday Night Fever" and "Trafalgar". I also love "Odessa", "To Whom It May Concern", "Horizontal", "Idea", "Main Course" and "Life In a Tin Can" a whole bunch. The Bee Gees are incredible.

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